Music Reviews
"Closer," by Josh Groban. 143 Records/Reprise
If only producers would put more faith in their singers' voices to carry an album. First Clive Davis sabotaged Clay Aiken's debut, surrounding the singer with mostly mediocre pop songs and glossy overproduction.

Deadlines
The deadline for listings in Around Town is noon on the Friday prior to publication.

Kerns' Notes
Holiday attractions includes annual Carol Concert
Texas Tech's annual free attraction called Carol of Lights, which takes place at 7 p.m. today at Memorial Circle and the Science Quadrangle on the Tech campus. Choirs will sing holiday music, conducted by John Dickson.

William Kerns' Movie Reviews
OPENING TODAY
Honey
Jessica Alba stars in this drama as the title heroine, a dancer and choreographer struggling to get by until she gets her one big break. When she finally tastes success, it seems too good to be true  and is. Then Honey finds a new dream fueled by the exuberant energy of a group of neighborhood kids who bring her back to the sheer joy of expressing everything on the dance floor. Mekhi Phifer and hip-hop artist Li'l Romeo costar.

DVD Reviews
"100 Years of the World Series"  An ideal companion for baseball fans to fill in those empty moments between games of the current World Series with the New York Yankees and Florida Marlins.

Visionaries take us from comfort zone
The world is a bigger, brighter place today. Finally, after two months without one of my contact lens, I had my eyes checked and now am looking through two lenses.
This type of visual correction is called monovision, one eye corrected for distance, the other for mid-to-close vision.

Secrets of a bygone era bared by boyish hunter
THIS IS A story that should not be told without preamble.It occurred during a different era, an era that was both governed and measured by the work ethic; it was a different area, an area where rural boyhood thrived without the sophistication of city life; it was a different set of rules and standards, both of which were sustained more by internal cognizance than by external laws...
It was a time when the word allowance had a plethora of meanings, none having to do with money doled to those who merely stood and waited. It was a time, an area, an era where getting something for doing nothing might have been everybodys fantasy but nobodys fact.

Business Q AND A
Q: I am concerned. I am told that the government is not going to continue to issue HH Bonds. How can they do this to the citizens of this country?

IRS looks into compensation for executives
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Internal Revenue Service wants to make sure companies are adhering to the rules for granting their chief officers stock options, fringe benefits and other perks.
The agency is auditing two dozen companies to find out whether their executive compensation practices followed the letter of the law. The program will be expanded to more companies. In cases where the exams show the law to be hazy or vague, the agency plans to issue clarifications and guidance.

Boeing team favors Washington site
SEATTLE (AP)  A Boeing Co. executive team has concluded that the 7E7 Dreamliner commercial jet should be assembled in Everett, The Seattle Times reported in a copyright story Friday.

Bush signs law to maintain fair credit access
WASHINGTON (AP)  Americans will be able to get free copies of their credit histories every year and will gain new weapons against identity thieves under legislation President Bush signed into law on Thursday.
"People work hard to build up good credit histories and rely on their credit to move forward in life," Bush said during a signing ceremony at the White House. "Today we're helping to make our credit system fair, fair to all, and to better protect people from those who would abuse it."

Stocks dive after jobs report
NEW YORK (AP)  Stocks retreated Friday after a report on November employment revealed disappointing job growth and Intel Corp. issued a forecast that fell short of expectations. The market's major indexes closed the week mixed, with the Nasdaq composite index down after briefly touching the 2,000 level Wednesday.

Eisner takes award amid controversy
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Walt Disney Co. chairman and chief executive Michael Eisner was lauded for his executive and creative abilities, just days after two Disney board members called on him to resign.

Steel tariffs lifted to avoid trade war
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Bush on Thursday scrapped import tariffs he had imposed last year to help the battered U.S. steel industry, defusing a threatened trade war with Europe and Japan but creating political problems for himself in states that could be key in next year's election.

Enron examiner allowed to return to law firm
NEW YORK (AP)  A federal judge allowed the court-appointed examiner in the Enron Corp. case to return to his law firm now that the final report on the massive bankruptcy is complete, but he postponed a hearing on two other requests that drew objections from creditors and other parties.

NAIA Volleyball
SAN DIEGO  Despite a valiant comeback in its second pool-play match at the NAIA volleyball tournament on Thursday, Lubbock Christian University fell to fourth-seeded Dordt (Iowa) in five games, 32-30, 30-21, 25-30, 27-30, 15-8.

AP ALL-Big 12 team
The 2003 Associated Press All-Big 12 team, as selected by a panel of 19 sports writers who regularly cover the league for newspapers throughout the league's seven states. Players at all positions are listed alphabetically; players names preceeded by "u-" are unanimous selections.

Southern Miss' Bower takes C-USA award
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (AP)  Southern Miss head football coach Jeff Bower has been named Conference USA coach of the year and Golden Eagles linebacker Rod Davis won C-USA defensive player of the year.

Lady Raiders not looking past anybody
When it comes to playing college basketball, Jolee Ayers-Curry has been there and done that.
The Texas Tech senior center has experienced al-most everything a season can offer in her three previous campaigns. So, as the No. 5 and undefeated Lady Raiders (7-0) begin a stretch today of back-to-back games against winless opponents, Ayers-Curry isn't about to let her fellow teammates overlook the matchups.

Barkins' five treys for Morris down South Plains
TYLER  Quintina Barkins scored a game-high 20 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead Lon Morris College to a 70-62 over the South Plains College women at the Rose City Classic tournament.

Youngsters play key roles for USC
LOS ANGELES (AP)  This figured to be a rebuilding year for Southern California, which lost its Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, its only experienced tailbacks, an All-American safety and several other defensive standouts.

Tech's Peters, Welker take Big 12 honors
Mickey Peters saw the handwriting on the wall in his first year at Texas Tech. With B.J. Symons and Nathan Chandler in the same group of freshmen and Kliff Kingsbury a class ahead of them, Peters foresaw tough sledding if he wanted to remain a quarterback.
Symons sat forever, Chandler transferred, and instead of continuing to throw passes, Peters changed positions and spent his career catching passes. Moving to inside receiver paid off in a big way: With one game left, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Peters is fourth at Tech in career receptions (188) and yardage (2,238) and tied for third in touchdown catches (20).

LCU, Wayland win at Pioneer Classic
PLAINVIEW  Lubbock Christian University guards Brandon Jones and Jared Fears poured in 28 and 27 points, respectively, as the Chaparrals ripped Huston-Tillotson 114-76 Friday on the first day of the Lions Pioneer Classic at Hutcherson Center.

LCU volleyball team falls short in national tourney
SAN DIEGO  The Lubbock Christian University volleyball team achieved its season-long goal of reaching the NAIA national tournament for the fifth time in six years, but for the third season in a row, the 12th-ranked Chaparrals failed to advance past the pool-play round.

Top 25 women's roundup
MANHATTAN, Kan.  Kendra Wecker had 20 points and 16 rebounds for her 26th career double-double, and No. 12 Kansas State beat winless Sacramento State 94-31 Friday night in the first round of the Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic.

Tech's Symons wins Baugh award
B.J. Symons became the second consecutive Texas Tech quarterback to win the Sammy Baugh Trophy in recognition of being college football's top passer.

Schools Lawsuit
WE APPLAUD Lubbock Independent School District trustees decision authorizing LISD to join other plaintiffs in the West Orange-Cove Consolidated School District vs. Alanis suit. The lawsuit seeks to:
Establish a finance system that is equitable based on student percentages and revenue;

ARCS Scholars
LUBBOCK TRULY is on the cutting-edge in scientific advances and, thanks to groups such as the Lubbock Chapter of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists, there will be no slowing down. The local ARCS chapter recently honored its latest recipients with a reception at the International Cultural Center.

Carol Of Lights Shines Brightly
THE CAROL OF Lights at Texas Tech showcases a Yule tradition spanning more than four decades. In fact, tonight marks the 45th celebration of the festive event. Over the years, it has been embraced by Lubbock residents and visitors, in addition to Tech students and faculty members.

School finance committee hears about loophole in franchise tax
AUSTIN (AP)  Lawmakers considering how to revamp the state's school finance system on Thursday heard from tax experts about corporations that continue to use loopholes to help them avoid paying state franchise taxes.
During the regular session, the Legislature failed to adopt a fix to the so-called Delaware Sub loophole that allows corporations to avoid paying millions in taxes every year.

SPORTS BRIEFLY
Tech freshmen honored by Big 12
Texas Tech middle linebacker Brock Stratton was named Big 12 Conference freshman defensive player of the year by The Sporting News, and three of his teammates made the publication's Big 12 all-freshman team.

SPORTS BRIEFLY
Monterey players to be in All-Star game
Defensive end/linebacker Jacob Dangerfield and defensive lineman Shane Johnston of Monterey were both chosen to play in the Second-Annual All-Star Football Classic Bowl game in Tampa, Fla., at the South Florida Sports Complex Dec. 29.

Westerners fall in Shootout
WOLFFORTH  Azle head coach Robert Hale notched a memorable victory at the Gene Messer Shootout on Friday.
Hale, a 1963 graduate of Lubbock High, beat his old team for the first time in the second round of the 10th annual boys basketball tournament held at the Frenship Gym. Hale's son Clarke led the Hornets with a game-high 23 points, and with the 40-28 victory over the Westerners, Azle advances to face Palo Duro in the semifinals at 10:30 a.m. today.

MHS falls to Denver City
WOLFFORTH  Compared to previous basketball games played on Thursday, neither Denver City nor Monterey exactly lit up the scoreboard during the first round of the Gene Messer Shootout.
That made the Plainsmen's second-half shooting blackout even worse.

CITY BOYS ROUNDUP
WOLFFORTH  Glen Davis made a short jumper in the paint with 12 seconds left in overtime Thursday to lift Lubbock High to a 61-60 victory over El Paso Franklin in the first round of the Gene Messer Shootout.

Compare Budget, Savings
It seems to me now that our City Council has mined the publics pockets for millions of dollars a year, they are ready to remove the best reason for the existence of our city-owned municipal power company.
How many times have we heard that the municipal power company keeps our property taxes down? Reorganization will abolish the municipal power companys contribution to our citys budget!

Seat Belt Law Enforcement
It seems to me that our law enforcement officials have begun the regular lining of state coffers with the donations from citizens who were not wearing safety belts. I guess they are saving these persons from themselves.

Detain Red-Light Runners?
This past Sunday night (11-16) at 8:30 p.m. at the intersection of 4th Street and University Avenue, I saw a pickup accelerate rapidly through a red light.

Housing Discussions
It seems to me that all the discussion lately about the housing ordinance limiting renters to two related individuals misses or ignores one important point.

Lifestyles calendar
Events
Send information to Lifestyles Calendar, P.O. Box 491, Lubbock, TX 79408 at least a week in advance. Please include a phone number to be published.

Give the Gift of yourself
Providing toys and food to people in need embodies Christmas for Maj. Mark Satterlee of the Salvation Army.
"I heard someone say once that they know when spring has arrived because they hear the first robin, and they know it's Christmastime when they hear the first kettle bell," Satterlee said, referring to volunteers who man red kettles and bells as they solicit donations to make Christmas merry for South Plains families.

'Japanese Kitchen' recipes tasty
California native Eric Gower recently returned after a decade or so in Japan exploring aspects of Japanese cooking  using shiso, ginger, sake and tofu, and fresh produce, fish and meats.

Widower slain in residence
Residents along East Baylor were shocked Thursday to learn one of their neighbors had been robbed and killed in his home.

Shedding Light on the Season
he magic of Texas Tech's Carol of Lights cast its spell again Friday night as it has once a year for nearly half a century.
From the inimitable voice of William G. Hartwell in his traditional rendition of "O Holy Night," to the bigger-than-life Masked Rider with a brightly lighted cape, the Carol of Lights program marked the start of the Christmas season on campus.

Major changes on table for LISD
Sweeping changes in LISD  including placing ninth-graders in high schools, creating middle schools and possibly adding two elementary schools  are being considered by the school board.
Other changes under consideration are putting sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders in junior high or middle school and having kindergarten through fifth grade in elementary school.

Teen gets 10 years for assault, escape
A teenager convicted of beating and choking a detention officer before breaking out of the Lubbock County Juvenile Justice Center was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday.

City manager search narrows to four finalists
A Lubbock City Council advisory committee recommended Thursday that councilmen interview Lubbock Interim City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, Longview City Manager Rickey Childers, Temple City Manager Mark Watson and former Surprise, Ariz., City Manager William Pupo for the manager's job in Lubbock.

Homes open for Christmas tour
Private homes filled with Christmas trees and decorations and the warmth of the holiday season will be open to the public Thursday during the Ransom Canyon Holiday Tour of Homes.

Flu Q & A
Health officials say this year's flu outbreak, which has spread faster and earlier than usual, appears to be the worst in at least three years. And the leading vaccine makers have shipped all of their supply. Here are answers to some common questions:
 Q: Several children have died from the flu. Are they considered more at risk for this year's flu strain?

New breast cancer test can help women with treatment decisions
SAN ANTONIO (AP)  A first-of-its-kind genetic test will soon be available to help women with breast cancer make one of their most crucial decisions: whether to undergo the rigors of chemotherapy.
Genomic Health Inc., a Silicon Valley biotech company, said it has identified nearly two dozen genes that, taken together, can predict with a high degree of accuracy the likelihood that tumors will return in women whose breast cancer was caught at an early stage.

Freeway shootings stand at 14
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP)  Two more shootings have occurred along an interstate highway since a woman was killed on the freeway last month, bringing the number of cases under investigation to 14, authorities said Friday.

Red Cross hopes to begin screening for Chagas
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  The American Red Cross within a few years hopes to start screening blood donations for Chagas disease, which is appearing in the United States through immigration and can lie dormant for decades before sometimes causing fatal heart complications.

Expert backs Rep. Janklow's diabetes defense
FLANDREAU, S.D. (AP)  Rep. Bill Janklow appears to have had symptoms consistent with a diabetic reaction before his deadly collision with a motorcyclist, an expert testified Friday during the congressman's manslaughter trial.

Fierce winter storm buries Northeast
The Northeast's first major storm of the season brought a blustery surge of sleet and snow Friday, closing schools, making a mess of highways and triggering a rush on snow blowers and shovels.
The snow was blamed for at least three traffic deaths and caused lengthy airport delays and hundreds of canceled flights.

Bail set at $5 million for suspect in college student's disappearance
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP)  The man charged in the kidnapping of a North Dakota college student was ordered held on $5 million bail Thursday after his lawyer said he wanted to stay behind bars for his own safety.
As Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, appeared in court, law officers in two states continued the search for 22-year-old Dru Sjodin, missing since she left work at a Victoria's Secret at a Grand Forks mall on Nov. 22.

Prosecutors plan to unseal evidence in Sjodin disappearance
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - (AP) Prosecutors said Friday they were dropping their objection to unsealing their evidence against a man accused in the disappearance of a University of North Dakota student, saying they wanted to clear up "misinformation."

Space visionaries hopeful of bold new space policy
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP)  After decades of watching astronauts circle Earth, space visionaries finally have reason for optimism: NASA and other agencies are working with the White House on a bold, new course of exploration.

Black college to march beside Confederate flag
ALBANY, Ga. (AP)  A historically black university has put aside its objections and will march in Albany's Christmas parade, even though it will also feature a Civil War re-enactment group carrying a Confederate flag.

Betty Ruth Miller
Betty Ruth Miller, 68, of Lubbock died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at Bender Terrace Nursing Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the A.W. Wilson Chapel of Jamison Funeral Home. Burial will be in the City of Lubbock Cemetery.

James F. Hales
FT. WORTH - James F. Hales, 78, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock, with the Yellowhouse Lodge and Dr. Jay Horton officiating. Visitation will be from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Resthaven Funeral Home.

Thelma Sechrist Caudle
Services for Thelma Sechrist "Grannie" Caudle, 96, of Lubbock will be at 2 p.m. Sat., Dec. 6, 2003, at W.W. Rix Chapel with Dr. Keith Wiseman officiating. Interment will follow in the City of Lubbock Cemetery. She died Thurs., Dec. 4, 2003, at Bender Terrace in Lubbock.

Death notices - 12/05/03
Fred Abney, 86, of Lubbock died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at his residence. Services will be at 2 p.m. today at Resthaven Memorial Park. Resthaven Funeral Home in Lubbock.
Floyd Dean Barker, 69, of Hobbs, N.M., died Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003. No services planned. Chapel of Hope Funeral Home in Hobbs.

Billy Frank Goforth
Services for Billy Frank Goforth, 69, of Lubbock will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at Resthaven's Abbey Chapel with Pastor Mark Elvers officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home. Billy died at his residence Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, after a lengthy illness.

Oleta Cole King
Graveside services for Oleta Cole King, 89, of Lubbock will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec.5, in the City of Lubbock Cemetery. Memorial services will follow at 3:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, officiated by the Rev. Bob Field. Arrangements are under the direction of Sanders Funeral Home. Mrs. King died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at her residence.

Hazel Brakebill
CROSBYTON - Services for Hazel Brakebill, 94, of Crosbyton will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at First Baptist Church in Crosbyton with the Rev. Les Griffin officiating. Burial will be in Crosbyton Cemetery under direction of Adams Funeral Home of Crosbyton. She died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.

Leoda Rampy
Services for Leta Leoda Rampy, age 93, of Lubbock will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Rest- haven's Abbey Chapel with Rev. John Ballard officiating. Burial will follow at Resthaven Me- morial Park under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home. Leoda went to be home with her Lord and Savior Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at Covenant Medical Center.

Ollie Lem Callaway
LITTLEFIELD - Funeral services for Ollie Lem Callaway, age 83, of Shallowater will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Hammons Funeral Home in Littlefield. Officiating will be Rev. Rush Coffman, pastor of Anton First Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the City of Levelland Cemetery under the direction of Hammons Funeral Home. Mr. Callaway passed away at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2003, at Covenant Medical Center in Lubbock.

Death notices - 12/06/03
Huland Benson, 70, of Lubbock died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Resthaven Funeral Home's Abbey Chapel in Lubbock.
Hazel Brakebill, 94, of Crosbyton died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003. Services will be at 10 a.m. today at First Baptist Church in Crosbyton. Adams Funeral Home in Crosbyton.

Dorotha Rae McDaniel Deering
ABERNATHY - Services for Dorotha Rae McDaniel Deering, 83, of Abernathy will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Abernathy First Baptist Church with Rev. John Lowrie officiating. Burial will follow in the Abernathy Cemetery under the direction of Abell Funeral Home of Abernathy. She died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, in Hale Center.

Amalia R. Hernandez
Amalia R. Hernandez, 70, of Lubbock departed this life Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, in Lubbock. She was born March 28, 1933, in Eden, Texas, to the late Felix and Gomecinda Merendon Rivas.

Royce E. Lane
Royce E. Lane, 77, a lifelong resident of Lubbock, died Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2003. He was born Feb. 2, 1926, to Jesse and Irene Trim Lane. He married Barbara Thomas June 16, 1972, in Lubbock. Royce worked for LP&L as a shift foreman for 32 years. He then owned and operated Lane Bookkeeping and tax preparation, retiring in 1995 with his wife. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church.

Fred D. Byrd
Services for Fred D. Byrd, 83, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at First United Methodist Church in Lubbock, with the Rev. Keith Wiseman and Bishop Wallis Ohl officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Rix Funeral Directors. He died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003.

E.C. Roddy
MORTON - Church service for E.C. Roddy, 87, of Morton will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at First Missionary Baptist Church in Morton with Rev. James Pope officiating. Burial will be in Morton Memorial Cemetery under direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Mr. Roddy died Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at his residence.

Police blotter - 12/06/03
Blotter information is compiled from reports filed with the Lubbock Police Department. To report information about these and other crimes, call Crime Line at 741-1000. In some cases, cash rewards are offered. Callers may remain anonymous.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

Police blotter - 12/05/03
Blotter information is compiled from reports filed with the Lubbock Police Department. To report information about these and other crimes, call Crime Line at 741-1000. In some cases, cash rewards are offered. Callers may remain anonymous.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT

Bledsoe returns to practice with Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP)  Drew Bledsoe returned to practice on Thursday, a day after experiencing dizziness from a second hit to the head in consecutive weeks.

Klitschko wants to capitalize on showing against Lewis
NEW YORK (AP)  Before the year began, Vitali Klitschko wasn't even considered the best heavyweight in his family, much less the best in the world. Sure he could pack a punch, but Klitschko was slow and awkward, and some questioned his heart.

Slugger Bonds appears before grand jury
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Barry Bonds appeared before a grand jury focusing on possible tax and drug violations by a California lab that supplied nutritional supplements to some of the nation's top athletes.

Cotton Kings look for winning streak
After slowing down a pair of streaking Southwest Division rivals last week, the Lubbock Cotton Kings are eager to start a winning streak of their own.
The last-place Cotton Kings (6-9-2) have yet to win consecutive games this season, but with some new-found success between the pipes and some new faces in the dressing room, a turnaround may be around the corner for coach Kirk Tomlinson's crew.

Miami LB Thomas plans to play Sunday
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) - Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas said Friday that although his hip still hurts, he expects to play Sunday at New England.

NHL roundup
BOSTON  Ed Belfour made 25 saves in recording his second shutout of the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs won their seventh straight game, beating the Boston Bruins 6-0 Thursday night.

San Antonio keeps Orlando's struggles going
ORLANDO, Fla.  The Orlando Magic put up a good fight but still lost their team-record 18th straight game, allowing San Antonio's Tim Duncan to score a season-high 47 points in the Spurs' 105-94 win Friday night.

Flyers earn 11th straight home win
PHILADELPHIA  Jim Vandermeer, Tony Amonte and John LeClair scored, leading the Philadelphia Flyers to their 11th straight victory at home, 3-2 over the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday night.

Yankees acquire Vazquez
NEW YORK (AP)  The New York Yankees made their first big move of the offseason, bolstering their rotation by agreeing Thursday to acquire Javier Vazquez from the Montreal Expos.

Terry Francona takes over as Red Sox manager
BOSTON (AP)  Four of the first dozen men to manage the Boston Red Sox led the team to a World Series title. In more than eight decades since, twice as many and then some have tried and failed.

Eagles-Cowboys rivalry returns to full steam
PHILADELPHIA (AP)  From Roger Staubach to Troy Aikman, Tom Landry to Jimmy Johnson, Tex Schramm to Jerry Jones, fans of the Philadelphia Eagles have always hated the Dallas Cowboys more than any other franchise.

Texas, Boston discussing A-Rod for Ramirez deal
NEW YORK (AP)  A-Rod playing alongside Curt Schilling in Fenway Park next season  it could happen as the Boston Red Sox try to beat the New York Yankees in a heated game of "Can you top this?"
The Red Sox are discussing acquiring the AL MVP Alex Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers for Manny Ramirez in what would be a swap of the only $20 million-a-year players in baseball history.

It's homecoming week for Seahawks sack specialist
KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP)  John Randle is in his third season with the Seattle Seahawks. Still, it's odd to see the Pro Bowl defensive tackle wearing anything but a Minnesota Vikings' purple uniform.

Furyk takes five-stroke lead in Grand Slam
POIPU BEACH, Hawaii (AP)  U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk opened with a 5-under-par 67 Friday to take a five-stroke lead over Masters champion Mike Weir in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Operate LP&L like a business?
One of the first decisions many new residents of Lubbock have to make is which electric company to use.
Except for some newly annexed areas in Southwest Lubbock, the majority of the people here have the option of having Xcel Energy, formerly Southwestern Public Service, or Lubbock Power & Light provide the power to turn on the lights at their home or business.

Official optimistic all New Mexico military bases will remain open
CLOVIS, N.M. (AP)  Lt. Gov. Diane Denish says she's optimistic the state will present the federal government with enough evidence and incentives to keep all of the state's military bases open.
Denish heads the New Mexico Military Base Planning Commission, a group of business and government leaders appointed to help keep New Mexico's bases open through the federal government planned Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC process in 2005.

Area woman plays Price is Right
Alayna Brooks of Denver City will be featured on The Price is Right TV show at 10 a.m. Thursday on KLBK-TV Channel 13 (Cox Cable Channel 7).

Clovis man pleads guilty in rape trial
John Jacobs, 21, of Clovis entered an Alford plea three-fourths of the way through his trial on a charge of criminal sexual penetration stemming from a July 26, 2002, incident.

Cheney extols Neugebauer on Stenholm's turf
ABILENE  Vice President Dick Cheney was in the hometown of an incumbent Democrat on Friday touting the president's record and urging voters to support Republican Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock.
Cheney's appearance at a fund-raiser for the freshman representative was a brazen campaign move on turf represented for the past 24 years by U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene.

Plainview trumps Seminole to draw peanut processing plant
PLAINVIEW  Peanut Corporation of America's president has confirmed that the company will locate a peanut processing plant in the former Jimmy Dean building along Interstate 27, so long as there is a favorable result on an environmental impact study.

Joyful Burdens
To find a former police chief who writes crime novels is not so surprising. After all, standard advice for aspiring authors is to write about what they know.
Tom Nichols took that advice to write his first novel, Color the Prism, which is in the contractual process of becoming a movie, and a third novel, The Axis, in search of a publisher. Hes about a third through a fourth novel.

Pass it along
The Rev. Clint Stephenson, senior minister at Westmont Christian Church, gives thought to the brevity of life in the Oct. 6 issue of the church newsletter:

Consider religious books for gifts
Holiday shoppers in bookstores are often attracted to nostalgic froth or pretty coffee-table tomes. But for recipients whod enjoy some substance, the seasonally apt gift might well be a good religious book.

Religion briefs
Christ Temple Church of God in Christ
Myrta Haynes shows off one of her hats. Hats will be popular at Sundays session of the womens convocation at Christ Temple Church of God in Christ.

New A&M admissions plan says race will not be factor
COLLEGE STATION (AP)  The Texas A&M System Board of Regents on Friday unanimously approved a new admissions plan that will not consider race as a factor in deciding which students are accepted for enrollment at its main campus.

Legislative panel mulls $1 cigarette tax increase to aid schools
AUSTIN (AP)  A $1 cigarette tax increase would reduce the number of smokers in Texas, cut state health care costs and bring in revenue to help fund an ailing public school finance system, a researcher told a legislative panel Friday.
Danny McGoldrick, director of research for an anti-smoking group, told the Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance committee that the tax could bring in $986.9 million in new revenues.

Campus police bust suspected college Peeping Tom
MIDLAND (AP)  A 20-year-old college student has been arrested on suspicion of taking photographs through a peephole as women tried on clothes in a fitting room at the Midland Abercrombie & Fitch store where he worked.

Woman in mayo clash gets 10 years for running over manager
HOUSTON (AP)  A woman who ran down a McDonald's restaurant manager when she didn't get mayonnaise on her cheeseburger was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for aggravated assault.
Waynetta Nolan, 37, had said she didn't mean to run over Sherry Allen Jenkins in the parking lot of a Southwest Houston McDonald's, breaking her pelvis.

TDH launches campaign encouraging vaccinations
AUSTIN (AP)  The Texas Department of Health on Friday announced a new advertising campaign to encourage parents to immunize children 2 years old and younger against measles, mumps, polio and other sometimes life-threatening diseases.

Smokey River
I admire the way our Depot District has taken old buildings and re-furbished them. One such place is a restaurant called Smokey River. They specialize in smoked meats (in a smoke-free environment, no less), in platter and sandwich formats, plus all the trimmings. It's a really cool place with tall ceilings, and a great water sculpture as a room divider - it's a little loud, though.

Plainview lands peanut company
PLAINVIEW  Peanut Corporation of America's president has confirmed that the company will locate a peanut processing plant in the former Jimmy Dean building along Interstate 27, so long as there is a favorable result on an environmental impact study.

City Council narrows list of manager candidates to three
Tommy Gonzalez, Lubbock interim city manager; Rickey Childers, Longview city manager and William Pupo, former city manager of Surprise, Ariz., remain candidates for Lubbock city manager after City Council whittled the finalist list by one Friday.

Iraq to create war crimes tribunal to try Saddam, aides
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)  Saddam Hussein and hundreds of his aides could go on trial for crimes against humanity and genocide in an Iraqi-led tribunal that will be established in the coming days, Iraqi and American officials told The Associated Press on Friday.

Suicide attacker detonates bomb on Russian train, killing 42
YESSENTUKI, Russia (AP)  A shrapnel-filled bomb believed strapped to a suicide attacker ripped apart a commuter train Friday near Chechnya, killing 42 people and wounding nearly 200 in what Russia's president called an attempt to disrupt weekend parliamentary elections.
The blast near this city in southern Russia was the latest in a series of suicide bombings and other attacks that have foiled security measures and killed more than 275 people in and around the rebellious region of Chechnya and in Moscow in the past year.

Blast rocks Afghan capital shortly after Rumsfeld's exit
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP)  Sus-pected Islamic militants fired a rocket into a field next to the U.S. Embassy here Thursday, Afghan authorities said. The blast occurred less than two hours after Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld left the Afghan capital.
There were no reports of injuries in the 6:15 p.m. explosion about 300 yards from the embassy compound, and 100 yards from the headquarters of international peacekeepers in Kabul.